Celina: Eden

Desert Dry

Priscilla Ardella ran past several vendor carts in the town of Levi. A cloak hung loosely around her neck, topped with a hood attached. The tail of the cape traveled behind her. The sandy city was bustling with vendors and merchants displaying many wares either in carts or on shop displays. The town of Levi was surrounded by giant thick, sturdy stone walls thanks to centuries upon centuries of well-built fortification. A guard stood at the entrance gate transfixed at his station, wielding a long spear vertically at his side.

If I'm fast enough, I'd be able to slip past 'im without a problem.

Priscilla's long, red hair flowed behind her along with her cape. She had a long, bizarre, cat-like tail that trailed from her bottom. She tended to keep her tail wrapped around her waist since it was sensitive, and she had a history of people accidentally stepping on it. The blue leather corset on her small body shimmered in the daylight sun. Her bare legs were covered with black shin guards which moved down to her feet, exposing her ankles and toes to the blazing grains of sand. The blazing sand didn't bother her though as she had more pressing matters at hand-she held an armful of stolen meats and bread. She held as much as her tiny arms could muster. Resting on her back, her trusty sword, Glam, shook and buckled from her movements due to the excitement. Her daggers rustled at her waist with each hurried step. She felt the dirt kick up as she ran swiftly. Her shin guards were starting to become covered in dirt.

Behind Priscilla, the goods' rightful owner gave chase. She was rotund, and yet, surprisingly swift. Priscilla didn't look back when she called out, "someone stop that little girl! Someone stop her! She's a thief!" She yelled at the top of her lungs whilst waving a wooden, rolling pin.

The little girl dropped a few things, but knowing what would happen if she went back to pick them up, she didn't bother. She saw carts and wheelbarrows in her way. Priscilla sped up. It was time to put her agility to the test--and by doing so--she jumped on top of a cart garnering screams and gasps from the owners. She flipped over another, and slid on her knees underneath the next. She still somehow managed to maintain the food in her arms.

A guard obstructed her path. Now, the real challenge began. The price to pay for stealing in Levi was a hefty sum: a body part would get chopped off. It didn't even matter if you were just a little girl who didn't know where her next meal would come from. In this case, Priscilla would lose a foot for running, and a hand for stealing-she saw it happen to a little boy before. And another homeless girl lost a hand just for reaching into a cart for a steamed bun-and she lost a tongue for eating it.

"Hey you child, stop!" The guard yelled, standing between her and the exit. But she wouldn't stop since her freedom stood a mere moments away.

The guard began to ready his spear only to find out Priscilla was faster. She saw that he lowered his spear just enough so that she could run up the thin, wooden pole. She jumped up, using his shoulder as a springboard, and landed behind him with bent knees, and quickly scurried out of the town's gates.
Behind her, she heard screams of:
She sprinted a good way from the entrance gates of the city of Levi, into what seemed like an endless stretch of desert. She breathed in heavy. Her little legs came to a halt. She turned slowly to look back. Levi looked small in the distance. She'd been running so fast, she didn't realize how much ground she covered.

She decided to walk further just to make sure she was out of earshot. Her stomach started to speak not too long after. She removed the cloak from around her neck, and maneuvered to where she was able to place all food items on the fabric. She placed them all whilst using her tail to hold the cloak. She sat before it all whilst folding her legs. She began to eat.

Once she finished, she realized there was some food left, in which she then used her cloak as a knapsack for the remaining food, hoisting the wrapped up food over her shoulder. She continued through the blazing sun, feeling the grains of sand between her toes.

What felt like an hours' walk began to drain her. The heat seemed to intensify, making her sweat trickle down her face, the back of her neck, and through her hair, leaving it matted. She'd use a hand to wipe it away, and continue on.

After a while, she started to wonder: maybe there's water up ahead? Maybe not? Wishful thinking on her part. She honestly wanted to take her chances back at Levi...especially considering the smoldering heat. At this rate, she'd take getting a limb hacked off right about now.

The walk was endless, and after a while, she collapsed to the ground, dropping the bag with the remaining food. Her knees sunk into the sand before her. Her vision was blurry as she looked ahead. No water was in sight. Not a cactus plant anywhere.

Her eyes began to sting. She wanted to cry, but her eyes were far too dehydrated to produce tears. A scream escaped the little girl's throat. She would wait a while, but not a soul was in sight. She was the same as she'd been for years; alone.

Suddenly, after a while longer, her body gave in. She fell onto her stomach like a belly snake. She just laid there. Waiting, waiting for the desert to finish her. That's when she saw shadows looming over her small, weakening body. CAW CAW loud voices of birds hovering over her. She knew what they were. She wanted to cry again, but realized, this is kind of what she wanted.

Finally some peace for once. Maybe dying's not so bad, maybe this is how it happens. Priscilla's mind comforted her. She closed her eyes and waited for them to swoop down and devour her slowly.